Archive for category: News

The Parish Council Community Working Group has received a report from Avon Wildlife Trust looking at making Pilning Playing Fields a richer, more welcoming green space for people and wildlife. AWT visited the site in June and July 2026 and shared practical, low‑cost ideas the community could consider over time.

The Playing Fields already have great potential: mature hedgerows, a flowing rhine, new tree planting and plenty of open space. AWT’s advisory report highlights simple steps that can quickly boost biodiversity and make the area more enjoyable for residents.

Some of the improvements suggested

• Less mowing in selected areas to allow wildflowers, butterflies and pollinators to return
• Mini‑meadows and colourful planting near the play area
• More native trees to create future shade and support wildlife
• Expanded nature area in the northern corner with bulbs, fruit trees and wildflowers
• Bird and bat boxes across the site
• Interpretation boards celebrating local species such as hedgehogs, bats and butterflies

Local wildlife

Within 1km of Pilning, 1,837 species have been recorded — including hedgehogs, slow worms, grass snakes, great crested newts, pipistrelle and serotine bats and the nationally scarce small blue butterfly. Many of these species can thrive with small habitat improvements.

How residents can get involved

AWT encourages local people to record wildlife sightings through BRERC, helping build a clearer picture of Pilning’s biodiversity and supporting future protection of green spaces. Also come along to the next meeting of the Community Working Group at Pilning Village Hall at 7pm on Monday 5^th October.

What’s next?

AWT will check in again later this year to review progress. Items will be presented to the Parish Council for further public consideration.

Urgent works are required to repair a bridge joint on the westbound carriageway of the Prince of Wales Bridge. This work will take place overnight on Wednesday 16 September.

The defect is stable but works cannot be deferred due to the risk of the joint deteriorating further. We are undertaking daily inspections to confirm the structure remains safe to operate until the planned repair on Wednesday.

To complete the work safely, a full westbound carriageway closure is required overnight on Wednesday 16 September between 9:30pm & 6am, with traffic management and diversions in place via the M48 Severn Bridge. The M4 westbound (from J21) will have lane closures in place from 8pm before the full closure at 9:30pm.

Due to the ongoing resurfacing trial on the Severn Bridge, the M48 westbound is closed at junction 1. There will be a contraflow on the eastbound carriageway. Traffic will gain access to the Severn Bridge via off and on closures with traffic signals at junctions 1 and 2 to manage the weight limit.

The contraflow in place means that wide loads will not be able to access the Severn Bridge. Wide loads from the M49 will need to wait in the M4 J22 layby. M4 westbound wide loads will need to wait in the services at M48 J1 until the closure is lifted.

Further information on the Severn Bridges and closures can be found on National Highways dedicated webpage.

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 – SECTION 87(2)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council Pilning Ward.

An election will be held to fill the vacancy if a notice of a request for such an election is given to the Returning Officer, South Gloucestershire Council, PO Box 1953, The Council Offices, Badminton Road, Bristol BS37 0DB by ten Local Government electors for the said electoral area no later than 01/10/2026

If no request for an election is given, the Parish Council will fill the vacancy by co-option.

DATED this Eleventh Day of September 2026

Signed J. Edwardes

Clerk to: Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council

Address: 6 Vicarage Road, Pilning South Glos BS35 4LN

Essential repair works to the berm at Promenade Gardens, Severn Beach are scheduled to take place during the week commencing 21st September. Reinstating it now will help preserve the stability, appearance and long‑term resilience of this well‑used public space.

The Parish Council has previously discussed the condition of the berm and the need for reinstatement, most recently noting in its minutes that:
– reinstatement is required to restore its original profile, and
– a compact tracked machine will be used to shape and compress the earth to the appropriate standard.

These works follow the Council’s earlier site visit and confirmation of the most suitable method for reinstatement. The contractor will operate on Beach Road and within the Gardens for a short period and residents may notice machinery on site while the berm is reshaped and compacted.

The Council appreciates residents’ patience while this important maintenance is carried out and will continue to monitor the area to ensure the berm settles correctly and performs as intended.